Main menu

Post navigation

This GEICO Insurance review will evaluate, for the most recent six year period where reliable statistics are available (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014), the annual auto insurance complaints for the subsidiary companies of GEICO, to determine whether each subsidiary, such as GEICO Casualty Company, has a better-than-average, average, or worse-than-average customer complaint record.

In addition to reviewing & rating its most recent six year complaint record, I’ll analyze the change in the JD Power home & auto insurance scores & ratings for GEICO insurance from 2012 to 2015, and compare them to the scores of leading competitors, like State Farm, Allstate, The Hartford, Travelers, American Family, Farmers, Safeco, Nationwide, Liberty Mutual, Progressive, and others. I’ll review the AM Best Financial Strength Rating (FSR) for the GEICO subsidiaries, too.

Be sure to use the information in this review and the ad below this paragraph (or the ad at the end of this review) to request price quotes from multiple insurance companies, and find the best auto or home insurance company for you.

The detailed information in this review compares GEICO auto & home insurance to the industry average and competing companies for customer service, claims processing performance, customer complaints, financial strength, and insurance rates, but if If you don’t want to read all the details, you can go to this review on my website here, to see if GEICO consistently performs better than average, average, or worse than average for customer service, claims, and pricing, and compare GEICO Insurance to over 40 other U.S. auto & home insurance companies.

I update my reviews throughout the year as new data becomes available, so be sure to bookmark or place my website in your favorites, so you can keep up on how GEICO and other major insurance companies perform in the future. If the information in this review helps you, please like this review on Facebook and share the link to it on the Web and through social media.

GEICO Insurance Review

GEICO is now the second largest auto insurance company in the USA, displacing Allstate from the number two spot it had held for decades. GEICO has grown its customer base, by spending more on advertising than its competitors, and offering low rates to many people contacting them for auto insurance quotes. However, a wise auto insurance consumer should never assume a company with a reputation for low rates, will have competitively priced rates for them, and fail to shop with all the leading companies. GEICO insures autos and other vehicles, but it does not insure personal or real property, and does not sell its own home or renters insurance. GEICO, like Progressive, partners with other insurance companies, and acts as an agent, to sell home, condo, renters, & mobile home insurance. If you get a home insurance price quote from GEICO, the company (or companies) they quote you will depend on where you live. (a list of the GEICO partner companies is available here on the GEICO website). This review will analyze the complaint statistics of the GEICO auto insurance companies. If you purchased (or planning to purchase) home insurance from GEICO, have GEICO confirm the name of the insurance company insuring your home (Its name will appear on your home insurance declarations page, too), and visit my website’s homepage, to check my home insurance complaint ratings for the company. GEICO is known for selling auto insurance direct to the public, through its website and call centers, but there are local GEICO agents, usually located in metropolitan areas, available in some parts of the USA.

This GEICO review is divided into four sections, consisting of: 1. AM Best Financial Strength Ratings for the GEICO insurance companies 2. JD Power insurance customer & claims satisfaction scores & ratings for GEICO compared to competing companies 3. the 2010-2014 auto insurance customer complaint record for the GEICO insurance companies, and 4. the competitiveness of GEICO insurance rates compared to other major auto & home insurance companies.

1. AM Best Financial Strength Rating for the GEICO companies

These GEICO insurance companies (GEICO Advantage Insurance Company, GEICO Casualty Company, GEICO Choice Insurance Company, GEICO County Mutual Insurance Company, GEICO General Insurance Company, GEICO Indemnity Company, GEICO Secure Insurance Company, and Government Employees Insurance Company) had their A++ (Superior) AM Best Financial Strength Rating with a stable outlook (no ratings upgrade or downgrade is expected in the near future) affirmed on 06/11/2015, which is a rating the GEICO companies have maintained since 2011 or longer. A++ is the highest rating for AM Best. I become concerned with any car or homeowners insurance company or subsidiary with less than an A- rating for financial strength from AM Best.

AM Best financial strength ratings are not a measure of customer service or the quality of the claims adjusting for any of the GEICO companies, but an opinion about their ability to pay claims, remain financially solvent, and stay in business. I recommend avoiding, if possible or practical, any auto or homeowners insurance company with lower than an “A-” rating for financial strength from AM Best. Some major auto & home insurance companies have lower financial strength ratings than the GEICO companies, but the difference in financial strength among A++, A+, A, & A- rated companies is not significant to me unless higher rated companies are the same or better in terms of price, coverage, claims handling, and customer service.

This review will analyze the JD Power ratings & numerical scores for GEICO Insurance, in all the JD Power insurance studies where the company was included in the last few years, to see if its JD Power ratings truly reflect the quality of the claims & customer service for the company.

I’ll compare the numerical scores (instead of the power circle rating) for GEICO auto & home insurance, to the industry average and the scores of competing insurance companies, for each JD Power insurance study (2012-2016) where it was rated. GEICO was included in the following annual JD Power insurance studies:

The Annual JD Power Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Study

The Annual JD Power Auto Insurance Claims Satisfaction Study

The Annual JD Power Auto Insurance Purchasing Experience Study

The Annual JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction Study

You can scroll down to read my analysis or summaries of the studies most interesting to you.

The Annual JD Power Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Study

GEICO is usually rated in all eleven of the regional studies composing the annual JD Power US Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Study. Scroll down to see how GEICO performed in the U.S. region including your state.

Here is how GEICO rated in the California region for the five factors used to determine its overall auto insurance customer satisfaction score in 2015:

Policy Offerings: Four Power Circles (better than most)

Price: Four Power Circles (better than most)

Billing & Payment: Four Power Circles (better than most)

Interaction: Three Power Circles (about average)

Claims: Three Power Circles (about average)

Overall Customer Satisfaction: Three Power Circles (about average)

Esurance scored about the same (5 points higher) as GEICO in the 2015 California Region study.

These companies scored 1.6% or more higher than GEICO in the 2015 California Region study (from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): USAA, Wawanesa, Hartford, Auto Club of Southern California, Ameriprise, and State Farm.

California Region Auto Insurance Satisfaction Summary: GEICO scored 1.6%, and 2.4% above the region average in 2012 & 2013 respectively, the same as the CA region average in 2014, and .9% above the region average in 2015, showing an inconsistent trend of about average to above auto insurance customer satisfaction in California, only scoring strongly above average in 2012 & 2013.

2012: Florida did not have its own regional study, and was included in the Southeast region study in 2012 (see below).

Florida Region Auto Insurance Satisfaction Summary: GEICO scored only .2% and .1% below the region average each year in the 2013 & 2014 studies respectively, and .7% above the region average in 2015, showing about average auto insurance customer satisfaction in Florida for two of the last three years.

New York Region (State of NY only)

2015: GEICO scored 15 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or 1.5% above the 2015 New York region average, at 828 out of 1,000 points.

Here is how GEICO rated in the New York Region for the five factors used to determine its overall auto insurance customer satisfaction score in 2015:

Policy Offerings: Five Power Circles (among the best)

Price: Five Power Circles (among the best)

Billing & Payment: Five Power Circles (among the best)

Interaction: Three Power Circles (about average)

Claims: Four Power Circles (better than most)

Overall Customer Satisfaction: Five Power Circles (among the best)

State Farm scored about the same (3 points above) as GEICO in the 2015 New York Region study.

These companies scored 8.3% higher than GEICO in the 2015 New York Region study (from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): USAA.

These companies scored 1% or more lower than GEICO in the 2015 New York Region study (from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): Travelers, Nationwide, Allstate, New York Central Mutual, Metlife, Liberty Mutual, Progressive, and Hartford.

2014: GEICO scored 17 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or 1.7% above the 2014 New York region average, at 822 out of 1,000 points.

Here is how GEICO rated in the New York Region for the five factors used to determine its overall auto insurance customer satisfaction score in 2014:

Policy Offerings: Five Power Circles (among the best)

Price: Five Power Circles (among the best)

Billing & Payment: Five Power Circles (among the best)

Interaction: Three Power Circles (about average)

Claims: Three Power Circles (about average)

Overall Customer Satisfaction: Five Power Circles (among the best)

These companies scored 7.9% higher than GEICO in the 2014 New York Region study: USAA.

These companies scored 1.1% or more lower than GEICO in the 2014 New York Region study: New York Central Mutual, The Hartford, Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Metlife, Nationwide, Travelers, and Progressive.

2013: GEICO scored 6 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or .6% below the 2013 New York region average, at 770 out of 1,000 points.

These companies scored .8% or more higher than GEICO in the 2013 New York Region study: USAA, New York Central Mutual, State Farm, Travelers, Liberty Mutual, and The Hartford.

These companies scored 1.1% or more lower than GEICO in the 2013 New York Region study: Metlife, Progressive, and Nationwide.

2012: New York did not have its own regional study, and was included in the New England / Northeast region study in 2012 (see below).

New York Region Auto Insurance Satisfaction Summary: GEICO scored .6% below, 1.7% above, and 1.5% above the region average in the 2013, 2014, & 2015 studies respectively, showing a recent trend of above auto insurance customer satisfaction in New York over the last two years.

These companies scored 4.7% or more higher than GEICO in the 2013 Texas Region study: USAA and Texas Farm Bureau.

These companies scored .5% or more lower than GEICO in the 2013 Texas Region study: State Farm, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Progressive, Nationwide, and Farmers.

2012: Texas did not have its own regional study, and was included in the Central region study in 2012 (see below).

Texas Region Auto Insurance Satisfaction Summary: GEICO scored the same in 2013 & 2014, and 7 points higher in 2015, but because of a very high regional average in 2014 & 2015 where all but two companies were above average, GEICO was 1.8% above, .5% below, and 1% below the region average each year in the 2013, 2014, & 2015 studies respectively, showing inconsistent auto insurance customer satisfaction in relation to the average in the state of Texas.

Central Region Auto Insurance Satisfaction Summary: GEICO scored 1.9% above, .5% above, .9% above, and .2% below the region average each year in the 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 studies respectively, showing a trend of about average auto insurance customer satisfaction over the most recent three years in the central region states of AR, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, OK, and SD.

Mid-Atlantic Region (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV)

2015: GEICO scored 1 point (on a 1,000 point scale) or .1% below the 2015 Mid-Atlantic region average, at 821 out of 1,000 points.

Here is how GEICO rated in the Mid-Atlantic Region for the five factors used to determine its overall auto insurance customer satisfaction score in 2015:

Policy Offerings: Three Power Circles (about average)

Price: Four Power Circles (better than most)

Billing & Payment: Four Power Circles (better than most)

Interaction: Two Power Circles (lowest rating)

Claims: Four Power Circles (better than most)

Overall Customer Satisfaction: Three Power Circles (about average)

Allstate scored about the same (2 points below) as GEICO in the 2015 Mid-Atlantic Region study.

These companies scored .5% or more higher than GEICO in the 2015 Mid-Atlantic Region study (from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): USAA, NJM Insurance, Erie, Hartford, and State Farm.

These companies scored .8% or more higher than GEICO in the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Region study: USAA, NJ Manufacturers, Erie, State Farm, Nationwide, Travelers, and Progressive.

These companies scored .6% or more lower than GEICO in the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Region study: Allstate, Liberty Mutual, 21st Century, and High Point Insurance.

Mid-Atlantic Region Auto Insurance Satisfaction Summary: GEICO scored 1.6% below, .9% above, .3% above, and .1% below the region average each year in the 2012, 2013, 2014, & 2015 studies respectively, showing a trend of about average auto insurance customer satisfaction over the last three years in the Mid-Atlantic region states of DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, and WV.

North Central Region (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI)

2015: GEICO scored 4 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or .4% above the 2015 North Central region average, at 812 out of 1,000 points.

Here is how GEICO rated in the North Central Region for the five factors used to determine its overall auto insurance customer satisfaction score in 2015:

Policy Offerings: Four Power Circles (better than most)

Price: Five Power Circles (among the best)

Billing & Payment: Four Power Circles (better than most)

Interaction: Three Power Circles (about average)

Claims: Three Power Circles (about average)

Overall Customer Satisfaction: Three Power Circles (about average)

State Farm, Erie, Progressive, and Farmers scored about the same (within 4 points above) as GEICO in the 2015 North Central Region study.

These companies scored .7% or more higher than GEICO in the 2015 North Central Region study (from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): USAA, Auto-Owners, Nationwide, COUNTRY Financial, Indiana Farm Bureau, Hartford, and American Family.

These companies scored .6% or more lower than GEICO in the 2015 North Central Region study (from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): Allstate, Grange, Liberty Mutual, Metlife, Michigan Farm Bureau, Automobile Club Group (AAA), Hanover, and Safeco.

2014: GEICO scored 7 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or .7% below the 2014 North Central region average, at 809 out of 1,000 points.

Here is how GEICO rated in the North Central Region for the five factors used to determine its overall auto insurance customer satisfaction score in 2014:

Policy Offerings: Three Power Circles (about average)

Price: Five Power Circles (among the best)

Billing & Payment: Four Power Circles (better than most)

Interaction: Two Power Circles (lowest rating)

Claims: Two Power Circles (lowest rating)

Overall Customer Satisfaction: Three Power Circles (about average)

These companies scored .9% or more higher than GEICO in the 2014 North Central Region study: USAA, Auto-Owners, State Farm, Grange, Erie, Country, and The Hartford.

These companies scored .9% or more lower than GEICO in the 2014 North Central Region study: Allstate, Farmers, Automobile Club, The Hanover, and Metlife.

2013: GEICO scored 3 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or .3% below the 2013 North Central region average, at 794 out of 1,000 points.

These companies scored .9% or more higher than GEICO in the 2013 North Central Region study: USAA, Auto-Owners, State Farm, Erie, Michigan Farm Bureau, and The Hartford.

These companies scored .6% or more lower than GEICO in the 2013 North Central Region study: Allstate, Country, Liberty Mutual, Farmers, Progressive, Auto Club, and The Hanover.

2012: GEICO scored 1 point (on a 1,000 point scale) or .1% above the 2012 North Central region average, at 805 out of 1,000 points.

These companies scored .9% or more higher than GEICO in the 2012 North Central Region study: USAA, Auto-Owners, State Farm, Erie, and Country.

These companies scored .7% or more lower than GEICO in the 2012 North Central Region study: Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Progressive, American Family, The Hanover, Auto Club, Michigan Farm Bureau, Nationwide, The Hartford, and Farmers.

North Central Region Auto Insurance Satisfaction Summary: GEICO scored .1% above, .3% below, .7% below, and .4% above the north central region average each year in the 2012, 2013, 2014, & 2015 studies respectively, showing a trend of about average auto insurance customer satisfaction in the north central region states of IL, IN, MI, OH, and WI.

These companies scored 1.5% or more higher than GEICO in the 2013 Northwest Region study: USAA, PEMCO, The Hartford, State Farm, Mutual of Enumclaw, and American Family.

These companies scored .9% or more lower than GEICO in the 2013 Northwest Region study: Safeco and Farmers.

2012: GEICO scored 2 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or .2% below the 2012 West region average, at 808 out of 1,000 points.

These companies scored 2.9% or more higher than GEICO in the 2012 West Region study: USAA and State Farm.

These companies scored .9% or more lower than GEICO in the 2012 West Region study: Progressive, Allstate, Farmers, Safeco, Liberty Mutual, and Nationwide.

Northwest Region Auto Insurance Satisfaction Summary: GEICO scored .2% below, 1.2% below, 1% below, and .5% above the region average each year in the 2012, 2013, 2014, & 2015 studies respectively, showing below average auto insurance customer satisfaction in two of the last 4 years, and about average auto insurance customer satisfaction in the other two of the last 4 years, in the Northwest region states of ID, MT, OR, WA, and WY.

These companies scored 1.2% or more higher than GEICO in the 2013 Southwest Region study: USAA, State Farm, and The Hartford.

These companies scored 1.6% or more lower than GEICO in the 2013 Southwest Region study: These companies scored % or more higher than in the 2013 Southwest Region study: Liberty Mutual, Allstate, CSAA/AAA NCNU, Progressive, and Farmers.

2012: GEICO scored 2 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or .2% below the 2012 West region average, at 808 out of 1,000 points.

These companies scored 2.9% or more higher than GEICO in the 2012 West Region study: USAA and State Farm.

These companies scored .9% or more lower than GEICO in the 2012 West Region study: Progressive, Allstate, Farmers, Safeco, Liberty Mutual, and Nationwide.

Southwest Region Auto Insurance Satisfaction Summary: GEICO scored .2% below, .4% above, .1% below, and the same as the region average, each year in the 2012, 2013, 2014, & 2015 studies respectively, showing a trend of about average auto insurance customer satisfaction in the Southwest region states of AZ, CO, NV, NM, and UT.

Here is how GEICO rated in the six factors used to determine its overall auto insurance claims satisfaction score in 2015:

First Notice of Loss: Four Power Circles (better than most)

Service Interaction: Two Power Circles (lowest rating)

Appraisal: Three Power Circles (about average)

Repair Process: Two Power Circles (lowest rating)

Rental Car Experience: Five Power Circles (among the best)

Settlement: Three Power Circles (about average)

Overall Auto Claims Satisfaction: Three Power Circles (about average)

These insurance companies scored the same or about the same (from 1 point to 3 points below) as GEICO in the 2015 US Auto Claims Satisfaction study (listed in order from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): Liberty Mutual, Progressive, Country Financial, Mercury, and Travelers.

These insurance companies scored .4% or more higher than GEICO in the 2015 US Auto Claims Satisfaction study (listed in order from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): New Jersey Manufacturers, Auto Owners, USAA, Amica, Auto Club of Southern California, Hartford, Nationwide, Erie, Allstate, American Family, Farmers, Safeco, and State Farm.

These insurance companies scored .6% or more lower than GEICO in the 2015 US Auto Claims Satisfaction study (listed in order from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): CSAA Insurance Group, 21st Century, Hanover, Metlife, Automobile Club Group, Esurance, and MAPFRE-Commerce Insurance.

Here is how GEICO rated in the six factors used to determine its overall auto insurance claims satisfaction score in 2014:

First Notice of Loss: Three Power Circles (about average)

Service Interaction: Two Power Circles (lowest rating)

Appraisal: Three Power Circles (about average)

Repair Process: Two Power Circles (lowest rating)

Rental Car Experience: Four Power Circles (better than most)

Settlement: Three Power Circles (about average)

Overall Auto Claims Satisfaction: Three Power Circles (about average)

These companies scored 1% or more higher than GEICO in the 2014 JD Power Auto Claims Satisfaction study: Amica, USAA, Auto-Owners, State Farm, American Family, Auto Club of Southern California, The Hartford, and NJ Manufacturers.

These companies scored 1.6% or more higher than GEICO in the 2013 JD Power Auto Claims Satisfaction study: USAA, NJ Manufacturers, Auto Club of Southern California, Auto-Owners, The Hartford, Erie, Amica, Travelers, State Farm, American Family, Nationwide, and The Hanover.

These companies scored 1.7% or more lower than GEICO in the 2013 JD Power Auto Claims Satisfaction study: MAPFRE-Commerce, Farmers, 21st Century, and Esurance.

These companies scored 1% or more higher than GEICO in the 2012 JD Power Auto Claims Satisfaction study: NJ Manufacturers, USAA, Auto-Owners, Amica, Erie, Automobile Club of Southern California, Country, American Family, The Hartford, State Farm, Allstate, Travelers, and CSAA/AAA NCNU.

These companies scored 1.8% or more lower than GEICO in the 2012 JD Power Auto Claims Satisfaction study: Mercury, 21st Century, Encompass, Esurance, and Commerce (MAPFRE).

Auto Insurance Claims Satisfaction Summary: GEICO scored 1%, .9%, .3%, and .3% below the national average each year in the 2012, 2013, 2014, & 2015 studies respectively, showing a trend of improving scores, but still slightly below average satisfaction in the national JD Power Auto Claims Satisfaction study.

The Annual JD Power Auto Insurance Purchase Experience Study

In my opinion, the JD Power Auto Insurance Purchase Experience Study is the least important JD Power study for choosing a car insurance company. A car insurance company with terrible claims handling and customer service, but knowing it has an easy purchasing experience, is of little value. Buying auto insurance with most companies is easier than ever in 2016, and even before technology simplified things, the ease & accuracy of the sales process always depended more on the experience and customer focus of the agent quoting you, not the choice of insurance company.

However, this study is useful as a sign of competitive pricing, since a company’s score is a reflection of the satisfaction of auto insurance shoppers with the prices they were quoted by the insurance company. This study considers and rates three categories: price, distribution channel (Website, Local Agent, Call Center Representative), and policy offerings, to determine a company’s numerical score for overall satisfaction in the purchasing experience.

The 2016 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study was based on responses from more than 17,000 shoppers who requested an auto insurance price quote from at least one competitive insurer in the past 9 months and includes more than 50,000 unique customer evaluations of insurers. The study was fielded in April, July & October 2015, and January 2016.

Here is how GEICO rated in the factors used to determine its overall satisfaction score for the auto insurance purchase experience in 2016:

JD Power Auto Insurance Purchase Experience Summary: After two years of better than average perofrmance in the pricing category, GEICO auto insurance pricing is no longer as competitive as surveyed by auto insurance shoppers in 2016, and now about average. It may be best to call GEICO or use its website to get an auto insurance quote, since getting an auto insurance quote from a local agent received the lowest rating in 2014, 2015, & 2016 from JD Power.

Don’t rely only on how GEICO performed in this auto insurance shopping study to tell you if GEICO has above average auto insurance rates for you. The only way to really know if you are getting a good price or you are paying too much for your auto insurance is to check the rates of all the auto insurance companies providing coverage in your state.

The opinions of people in a survey about the auto insurance rates they were quoted, are not reliable for knowing the company with the best price for you, because so many individual rating factors specific to you are used to determine your insurance rates. A company with a low rate for one person (or even many people) may not have a low rate for you, and vice versa, companies with a reputation for high auto insurance rates may have the best rate for you.

19 out of 20 people contacting an auto insurance company for a price quote may find higher rates than they pay now, but if this is the company saving you a lot of money on your auto insurance coverage, who cares what those other people think? Even a company receiving the lowest rating of two power circles in the Pricing category in the Auto Insurance Purchase Satisfaction Study, should not stop anyone from seeing what price that auto insurance company can offer them.

The Annual JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction Study

GEICO does not insure homes, but acts as an agent selling the homeowners insurance of partner companies. The JD Power ratings in this study rate & score GEICO’s performance as an agency selling the homeowners (condo, renters, mobile home) insurance of other companies. If you have or are quoted homeowners insurance through GEICO, be sure to check my review of the insurance company insuring you, because if you have a claim, it will be the insurance company insuring your property, not GEICO, settling the claim. The name of the company insuring you will appear on your insurance paperwork, or you can ask GEICO for the name of the company they are quoting or using to insure you.

Here is how GEICO rated in the five factors used to determine its overall homeowners insurance customer satisfaction score in 2015:

Policy Offerings: Four Power Circles (better than most)

Price: Five Power Circles (among the best)

Billing & Payment: Four Power Circles (better than most)

Contacting the Insurer: Three Power Circles (about average)

Claims: Four Power Circles (better than most)

Overall Homeowners Insurance Satisfaction: Four Power Circles (better than most)

These companies scored .5% or more higher than GEICO in the 2015 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study (from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): USAA, Amica, Auto-Owners, Erie, and Auto Club of Southern California.

These companies scored 1.6% or more higher than GEICO in the 2014 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study: USAA, Amica, Auto-Owners, State Farm, Erie, American Family, and Auto Club of Southern California.

These companies scored .6% or more higher than GEICO in the 2013 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study: USAA, Amica, State Farm, Auto-Owners, Erie, Automobile Club of Southern California, Encompass, American Family, Progressive, and Country.

2012: GEICO was not included in the 2012 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction Study.

Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction Summary: GEICO scored .2% above, 2.% below, and 1.9% above the national average each year in the 2013, 2014, & 2015 studies respectively, showing about average satisfaction in the national JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study over the last three years. We’ll see in 2016 if GEICO’s much improved score above the average in 2015 is the start of a new trend of better than average performance.

3. GEICO Auto Insurance Complaint Statistics & Ratings

You may really like your car or home insurance company, or you may have heard from relatives or friends about the insurance companies they think are best, but you never really know how good your insurance company will be, until you have a serious claim. The wise consumer should avoid insurance companies with a worse than average history of auto or home insurance complaints, but most reviews online don’t have enough complaint data to make a fair comparison among insurance companies.

A measure of quality for an insurance company is the number of upheld complaints filed against it with a state’s insurance regulatory authority, adjusted for the company’s market share. This section of the review will show you if GEICO auto insurance has a better-than-average, average, or below-average complaint record for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014. The most common reasons for auto & home insurance complaints, filed with a state insurance department against insurance companies, are for delay in claim payments, unsatisfactory payments for a claim, and denial of claims.

The complaint statistics (called complaint ratios) used in this review are the number of upheld complaints filed against GEICO, with a state’s insurance regulatory authority, adjusted for GEICO’s US auto insurance market share, as determined by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. This section of the review provides valuable information to help you decide if GEICO is best for you. By choosing a company with a better-than-average complaint history, or at least avoiding companies with a consistent, worse-than-average complaint history, you decrease the likelihood you will have a negative experience, when you need your auto or home insurance company.

The complaint ratios for the GEICO insurance companies listed below display the ratio of the company’s U.S. Market Share of closed complaints compared to the company’s U.S. Market Share of premiums for a specific policy type. Complaint ratios lower than “1” have less complaints than average, and complaint ratios over “1” have more complaints than average. The lower the complaint ratio, the less complaints against the company. Ideally, you want to choose an auto or home insurance company with complaint ratios less than 1.00 each year, at least over the most recent three years.

So you don’t have to worry about comparing complaint ratio numbers, I devised a rating system to help you identify if GEICO has a good or poor complaint record.

B = Better than average. Insurance companies with complaint ratios less than 75% of the average insurance company.

C = Average. Insurance companies with complaint ratios from 75% to 125% of the average insurance company. I use a minus sign (-) to indicate auto insurance complaint ratios slightly worse than average (1.05 to 1.25) and a plus sign (+) for auto insurance complaint ratios slightly better than average (.95 to .75).

W = Worse than average. Insurance companies with complaint ratios more than 125% of the average insurance company.

I prefer companies with the longest recent history of “B” ratings each year (or at least in the most recent three years). Companies with “B” or “C+” ratings are okay, too, particularly if they have less market share, with less than $50,000,000 in premiums for that line of insurance (auto or home) each year. I prefer to avoid companies with a consistently higher than average number of complaints, or with inconsistent complaint records, unless there are mitigating factors, such as very small market share.

GEICO has seven subsidiary companies licensed to insure personal use vehicles in the states where the company sells insurance, which is all of the 50 states, according to the GEICO website. The use of more than one auto insurance subsidiary company is usually to offer different pricing, or operate in a certain state or states. Different subsidiaries can be used to offer specific pricing for certain market segments, such as drivers with lower or higher risk expectations (For example, drivers with a clean driving record vs. drivers with tickets and accidents), or certain occupations and employers, such as teachers or government employees, or to insure certain types of vehicles, such as motorcycles.

GEICO auto insurance complaint record considering all subsidiaries:

Average

Here is the auto insurance complaint data for each GEICO subsidiary insuring personal use cars & trucks in the USA:

Geico General Insurance Company is the largest auto insurance subsidiary among the GEICO insurance group of companies. Geico General Insurance Company has had a consistent better-than-average auto insurance complaint history over the last six years, with its number of auto insurance complaints in its worst year during this period (2014) at 73% of the industry average. The auto insurance market share for Geico General Insurance Company has grown each year since 2010, which may be an indication of competitive pricing for its auto insurance.

Geico Casualty Company has had a consistent higher than average number of auto insurance complaints each year since 2009, with its number of auto insurance complaints in its worst year during the 2009-2014 period (2009), at 218% of the industry average. However, the annual auto insurance complaint ratio for Geico Casualty Company has been getting better in recent years, and moving closer to the average in 2012, 2013, & 2014. The auto insurance market share for Geico Casualty Company has increased greatly each year since 2010, which may be a sign Geico Casualty Company has competitive auto insurance rates.

Government Employees Insurance Company is the auto insurance subsidiary for government employees and possibly other employment affiliations. Government Employees Insurance Company has had a consistent better-than-average auto insurance complaint history each year since 2009, with its number of auto insurance complaints in its worst year during this period (2014), still at only 53% of the industry average. The auto insurance market share for Government Employees Insurance Company has increased each year since 2010, which may be an indication of competitive pricing for its auto insurance.

Geico Indemnity Company has had a consistently better-than-average auto insurance complaint history over the last six years, with its number of auto insurance complaints in its worst year during this period (2014), at 71% of the industry average. The auto insurance market share for Geico Indemnity Company has continued to grow each year since 2010, which may be an indication of competitive pricing for its auto insurance.

Geico Advantage Insurance Company is one of the three new GEICO subsidiaries insuring vehicles, starting in 2012. Geico Advantage Insurance Company has a better-than-average auto insurance complaint record reach year in 2012, 2013 & 2014, with its number of auto insurance complaints in its worst year at 53% of the industry average. Geico Advantage Insurance Company has increased its auto insurance market share significantly each year since 2012, which may indicate Geico Advantage Insurance Company has competitive auto insurance rates.

Geico Choice Insurance Company is one of the three new GEICO subsidiaries insuring vehicles, starting in 2012. Geico Choice Insurance Company had a slightly lower than average number of auto insurance complaints in 2012 & 2014, with its number of auto insurance complaints in those years at 89% of the industry average. Geico Choice Insurance Company has increased its auto insurance market share significantly each year since 2012, which may indicate Geico Choice Insurance Company has competitive auto insurance rates.

Geico Secure Insurance Company is one of the three new GEICO subsidiaries insuring vehicles, starting in 2012. Geico Secure Insurance Company had a better-than-average auto insurance complaint record each year in 2013 & 2014, and it had no auto insurance complaints filed against it with a state insurance department at all for 2012. Geico Secure Insurance Company has increased its auto insurance market share significantly each year since 2012, which may indicate Geico Secure Insurance Company has competitive auto insurance rates.

GEICO County Mutual Insurance Company was purchased by GEICO from Fireman’s Fund in 2014, and this subsidiary used to be named Fireman’s Fund County Mutual Insurance Company. It had no active personal auto insurance policies in 2013, and is licensed to do business only in Texas. By the end of 2014, Geico County Mutual Insurance Company is one of the largest auto insurers in Texas, which may be a sign Geico County Mutual Insurance Company has competitive auto insurance rates.

GEICO received a rating of five power circles (among the best) for homeowners insurance pricing in the national 2015 JD Power U.S. Homeowners Insurance Satisfaction study. However, GEICO does not insure homes, and acts as an agency to sell the homeowners of several other insurance companies. Be sure to check my review of the homeowners insurance company GEICO quotes you or uses to insure your property.

The following companies also rated better than average (4 power circles or 5 power circles) for lower homeowners insurance rates in the 2015 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Satisfaction study: USAA, Amica, Erie, Auto Club of SC, Auto-Owners, and Mercury.

Auto Insurance

GEICO received better than average ratings (4 power circles or 5 power circles) in the category of auto insurance pricing for all the U.S regions (all 48 contiguous states), except for Texas and the southeast states of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. in the 2015 JD Power Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction study, which reflects the opinion of current GEICO policyholders about the auto insurance rates they pay.

The following companies also rated above average (4 power circles or 5 power circles) for lower auto insurance rates in the 2015 JD Power Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction study in the some of the same states where GEICO was rated: USAA, Amica, Alfa, Erie, Wawanesa, Ameriprise, Auto Club of Southern California, Esurance, Auto-Owners, COUNTRY Financial, Indiana Farm Bureau, Grange, Shelter, Progressive, PEMCO (WA & OR only), Texas Farm Bureau, Tennessee Farm Bureau, Kentucky Farm Bureau, North Carolina Farm Bureau, NJ Manufacturers, Metlife, and The Hartford.

GEICO received the rating of three power circles (about average) for the category of Pricing in the 2016 JD Power U.S. Auto Insurance Purchase Experience Study, which reflects the opinion of auto insurance shoppers about the rates they were quoted by GEICO. The following companies rated above average (4 power circles or 5 power circles) for lower auto insurance rates nationally in the 2016 JD Power Auto Insurance Purchase Experience Study: USAA, Erie, Liberty Mutual, The Hartford, American Family, Automobile Club Group, Travelers, Ameriprise, CSAA Insurance Group, and Mercury.

However, the companies with the best rates for some people participating in a survey may not have low rates for you. To get lower auto or home insurance rates, the only way to know if any insurance company has high or low rates for you is to conduct your own pricing survey, by obtaining price quotes & reviewing your coverage with all the leading insurance companies in your state, to find the best company for you.

It pays to shop. Many people pay too much for their insurance because they never shop for better rates, or if they do shop, they don’t check the rates of enough companies. No single company has low rates for everyone. You have to shop with all the leading companies, to find the company with the best coverage and best price for you. The ad below will take you to links to get online quotes from leading Home, Auto, Health, & Life insurance companies in your area. Choose the type of insurance, put in your zip, and start shopping now!

Thanks for reading this review of GEICO auto insurance customer complaints. You can find other reviews of leading auto, home, & life insurance companies on my website & blog. What do you think of GEICO auto insurance? Did you find this review useful? Comment on my facebook page. If you have questions, you can reach me at help@smartshopyourcarinsurance.com. Follow me on Twitter for important insurance consumer news & new blog entries at CarInsWatch.